Some people take on various fast in November for the Holy Souls. St. Peter Chrysologus has this to say about fasting:
“There are three things by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting, and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other. Fasting is the soul of Prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray fast; if you fast show mercy; if you want your Petition to be heard, hear the petition of others.”
